Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee?

It has been an argument that has started since the biggest trade in baseball history back in December of 2009, which pitcher would you rather have on your team as a Philadelphia Phillie Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee?


Roy Halladay as a Phillie in 2010 has put up an ERA 2.42, 9 wins, 7, losses, and 112 strikeouts. Halladay this season started the year off 4-0 in his first 4 starts and looked to be the best pitcher in the National League. Halladay threw 2 complete games and one of those games was a shutout against the Atlanta Braves on April 21st, 2010. Then a month later against the Florida Marlins on May 29th, 2010 Roy Halladay threw his first ever career perfect game and became the first Phillie to do so since Jim Bunning did that back in 1964 and Halladay became the second pitcher this season to throw a perfect game in the same month. After his perfect game the "Doc" lost his next 3 starts and his record went to 8-6 with an ERA of 2.43 which was still one of the best in the NL. On June 25th he picked up his 9th win against his former team the Blue Jays and that was a win he needed badly. Against the Reds Halladay went 8 innings with 10 K's gave up 13 hits, and 4 earns runs the "Doc" blew a 3 run lead in his hands and got the lost and his record was now 9-7. So the first half of the year for Halladay has been a full of ups and downs and in this game its never easy being the best. Halladay should get at least 1 or 2 more starts before the all-star break and will see what the "Doc" can to.


We now take a look at former Phillie Cliff Lee who in the offseason headed over to the Settle Mariners. In the beginning of the 2010 season Lee would start the year on the DL but when Lee came off the DL he went 7 innings giving up on 3 hits and striking out 8 batters against the Texas Rangers. In that game Lee would get a no decision. Lee would then win 4 in row in his next 4 starts and looked to be the "M's" best pitcher on the team. On June 29th against the New York Yankees the team that he was lights out against the 2009 World Series Lee would set an all time new major league record by walking his 5th batter this season in 144 innings pitched, no one has ever done that before. Lee would also throw his 3rd straight complete game in a row and became the first Mariner to do that since Randy Johnson did so back in 1998. Lee will most likely get at least 1 more start on the year and go for complete game number 5 and his 4th straight. Lee so far as a Mariner has an ERA of 2.45, 7 wins, 3 losses, and 78 strikeouts, but with the trade deadline right around the corner who knows if he will still be a Mariner for long as the Yankees, the Dodgers, the Mets, the Rangers and even the Phillies might try to get Lee off their hands.


So there have you people what pitchers would you like to have on your team? I mean the Phillies at one point had both pitchers on the team but traded Lee to get some prospects. The Phillies already had Lee signed for the 2010 season for 9 million dollars but they heard that Lee wanted the test the free agency market and didn't let Halladay fall to another team. But as you can see Lee has been pretty good with a team that is in dead last and as for the Phillies well their no longer kings of the National League East anymore as their 3 games out first against the Atlanta Braves. If you had both pitchers on this team who knows how good the Phillies would be, they would probably be the best team in baseball and I still think when everything is said and done the Phillies will be right there at the end. As for Lee who knows what team he will be with come at the end of July who knows maybe the Phillies will get him back, at Yankee Stadium when Lee was pitching a Phillie scout was there looking at Lee, but only time will tell.


For Beyond Baseball,
I'm Seth Lempert.

Rookie Lights Up the Speed Gun In His First Spot Light!

June 8th, 2010 will be a day that young rookie Stephen Strasburg will never forget as he finally made his first major league debut for the Washington Nationals and proved to everyone that he is the pitcher that everyone expects him to be. Last night at Nationals Park with a sold out crowd of 44 plus thousand fans on hand all eyes were on young Stephen Strasburg to finally see this kid pitch in the big leagues. With his first pitch being a ball it hit the speed gun at 97 mph, then with another fastball coming in clocked at 98 mph it was no joke that this kid throws some heat alone with nasty change-up, 2 seam sinker ball, and really good curve ball. At one point of this game he hit the gun with a 100 mph fastball that set up the rest of pitches to strike out 14 batters in 7 innings of work. Although he gave up a 2 run home run on 4 hits he bounced back and did what he had to do to keep his new team in the game. The 21 year old prove that someday he will be the number starting pitcher for this club whether it be next year or in 3 years this kid has the stuff the be one of the greatest pitchers in years to come if he stays healthy.

So Strasburg gets his first major league win (5-2) with a 2.57 ERA but remember he was pitching against the Pirates who aren't that great of a team and you like to see he face better line ups like the Braves, Phillies, Marlins and so fore to see how he would really do in the show, but still you have to say to yourself wow that's amazing that in his first major league debut he only went 7 innings striking out 14 hitters on 105 pitches. Strasburg during the whole night was clocked with fastball averaging from 97-100 mph on the gun and if he can keep that up during the rest of his career by also mixing up his pitches he will have no problem pitching in the big league. It’s just a matter of time to see if he will keep it up and if he can always control his fastball. Strasburg struck out 14 batters almost tying a major league record by a rookie that was set back in 1971 where J.R. Richard struck out 15 batters in a first major league debut. Strasburg is now second on the list with 14 K's in his first start. If you’re a Nationals fan you must be saying to yourself forget Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, Adam Wainwright, Johan Santana. WE GOT STRASBURG!!!!!!!


This Beyond Rookies of Rookies, This Beyond Baseball.

Who Wants To Ride The Wain-Train?

If you were to ask who is the heart and soul of the St. Louis Cardinals most people would say Albert Pujols but if you were to ask me who the heart and soul for this ball club is I would pick big gun and third starter Adam Wainwright. On Friday night Wainwright picked up his 8th win of the season and his 2nd complete game and 1st shut out of the year against the Brewers by a score of 8-0. Wainwright only gave up 2 hits in the ball game striking out 8 batters on 103 pitches. His last start before Friday's game he went 7 innings against the Cubs where he picked up his 7th win of the year. In that game against the Cubs he also picked up 8 K's. Boy I'm telling you this guy is a pitching machine, who would think that this guy 3 - 4 years ago would be the guy leading his team in wins where he was in bull pen. Wainwright is the third starter for the Red Birds but he could easily be the number one starter. His first complete game this year came back on April 18, 2010 against the New York Mets where he struck out 9 Met batters. Wainwright this year is ranked 2nd in the NL in wins with (8), ranked 1st in the NL in strikeouts with (85), ranked 2nd in the NL in complete games with (2), and ranked 4th in the NL in ERA with a (2.05). Wainwright has definitely made a name for himself in St. Louis and have proven that he get the job done. Now who wants to ride the Wain-Train?


Seth Lempert,
For Beyond Baseball.


2010 NL CY Young

1. Rockies - Ubaldo Jimenez - ERA 0.78, 10 wins, 1 loss, 70 strikeouts.
2. Mets - Mike Pelfrey - ERA 2.39, 8 wins, 1 loss, 52 strikeouts.
Cardinals - Adam Wainwright - ERA 2.05, 8 wins, 3 losses, 85 strikeouts.
Phillies - Roy Halladay - ERA 2.03, 8 wins, 3 losses, 77 strikeouts.
3. Cubs - Carlos Silva - ERA 3.12, 7 wins, 0 losses, 42 strikeouts.
Cardinals - Chris Carpenter - ERA 2.76, 7 wins, 1 loss, 70 strikeouts.
4. Braves - Tim Hudson - ERA 2.30, 6 wins, 1 loss, 33 strikeouts.
Mariners - Josh Johnson - ERA 2.10, 6 wins, 2 losses, 77 strikeouts.
Padres - Jon Garland - ERA 2.15, 6 wins, 2 losses, 42 strikeouts.
Giants - Barry Zito - ERA 2.78, 6 wins, 2 losses, 48 strikeouts.
5. Giants - Tim Lincecum - ERA 3.14, 5 wins, 2 losses, 83 strikeouts.
Cardinals - Jaime Garcia - ERA 1.32, 5 wins, 2 losses, 51 strikeouts.

Perfection Taken Away! Griffey Hangs Up His Jersey.

After seeing Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay throw the 20th perfect game in Major League history 5 days ago, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarrage was on the verge of making history by begging the 21st pitcher to throw a perfect game and be the 267 pitcher to throw a no-hitter until the bottom of 9th with 2 outs away. With 2 outs away Jason Donald hit a weak ground ball over to first baseman Miguel Cabrera who threw over to the pitcher Galarrage who was covering first base and what everyone thought was a perfect game Donald was called safe. When you go back and look at the replay on ESPN.Com its clear to say that Donald was out by a foot step and umpire Jim Joyce blew the call that he makes 9 out of 10 times. "I cost the kid a perfect game. I saw the replay and I missed the call, I'm sorry. Worst call of my career." said Joyce. All Galarrage did was look at Jim Joyce with a smile and say are you kidding me? The next batter he got out on a ground ball and what could have been 27 up, 27 down, was 26 up and 28 down. He wouldn't get a no-hitter all he would get was a complete game shutout on 88 pitches thrown. Armando Galarrage could have joined Dallas Braden and Roy Halladay who have thrown perfect games this year and could have made history by begging the 3rd pitcher to throw a perfect game in one season that has never happened before and could have been the 21st pitcher to throw a perfect game and the 267 pitcher to throw a no-hitter. But thanks to Jim Joyce that didn't happen and the talk and buzz around Major League Baseball is now should instant replay be used for calls like this and not just for home runs or should it stay the way it is now? After seeing a call like this it makes you think that instant replay should have an effect to the game now. Armando Galarrage stayed perfect through 8 2/3 innings pitched until that call was made and all he had to say was "nobody is perfect and everyone is human and we all make mistake and if I was him I would be unhappy with myself but there's nothing I can do. It is what it is and I'm happy that he was man enough to say I'm sorry to me. I respect him for that and hopefully I'll get another chance at this again." So Galarrage who stayed cooled and calmed was indeed perfect but wasn't perfect on Wednesday night.



On Wednesday one of the all time greats Ken Griffey Jr. retires after playing 22 years in the big leagues and would put him 5th on the all-time home run list with 630 career home runs joining the list with Barry Bonds-762, Hank Aaron-755, Babe Ruth-714, Willie Mays-660, and now Ken Griffey Jr. joins that list. Griffey also retires with 1,836 career RBI's, 13 time All-Star, 10 time Gold Glove Winner, and won the 1997 AL MVP Award. Griffey never won a World Series and you would think he did when he played with the Mariners back in the early 90's when they had Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson and he never won a World Series. The best part of his career is that he never use steroids during his playing days and if injuries didn’t cost him his career he would have been the one to break the home run record and be the all-time home run king without a doubt and in my book and I think to every sports writers book he is a first ballot Hall of Famer. He was just a great player all around he could hit, run, steal, catch, throw, everything you could ask for in a player and after 22 years in the big leagues it was time to hang up the jersey. Griffey played 13 years with the Seattle Mariners, 8 years with the Cincinnati Reds, and 1 year with the Chicago White Sox. He ended his career in Seattle the place that he calls home and probably the place that will retire his jersey number 24. The kid who brought life to the North West side of baseball is retired as one of the all time greats.



This is Beyond History, This is Beyond Baseball.

Slumping Phils.

It’s clear to say that Philadelphia Phillies are at the weakest part of their season. After losing the series with the Red Sox the Phillies got sweaped by their division rival the New York Mets. Still somehow the Phillies lead their division by 1.5 games over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. After the Phillies took game 1 in a 3 game series with the Red Sox last Friday the Phils haven't answered back, last Saturday they were shutout 5-0 by Daisuke Matsuzaka who had a no-hitter going into the 8th inning and that would be the only hit the Phils would get off him. On the other hand Kyle Kendrick was roughed up for 5 runs in just 4.2 innings work. We move on to last Sunday were the Phils would send out their ace Roy Halladay who at moment didn't have his best stuff in his last previews start. Halladay again would get roughed up for 8 hits, 6 earn runs and going just 5.2 innings of work and that would bring his ERA up to 2.22. That would be Halladay first shortest outing of his career since 2003. The Phillies also had 2 ears behind him making Halladay’s record now 6-3 on the year. Boston's pitcher Tim Wakefield had no trouble with the Phils line-up going 8 innings and allowing no hits. The Phillies would get 3 hits and 3 runs off the bats of Raul Ibanez who would double and scored a run, then Ross Gload would hit a 3 run home run in the 9th inning but the Phillies would still end losing the game 8-3 and also lose the series 2 games to 3 against the Red Sox who at point came into the series dead cold.


The Phillies would now head into New York to take on their division rival the Mets. The Phillies came into play with a 26-17 record and the Mets came into play with a 23-23 record. So on Tuesday the Mets would send out R.A. Dickey to slow down the Phils bats and he sure did going 6 innings no runs, and 7 strikeouts. The Phillies left hander Jamie Moyer only went 5 innings, 7 hits, and giving up 4 runs with his ERA now being 4.55. The Phillies would be shutout 8-0 and with 9 hits from the Phils and couldn't get in one single run, Jamie Moyer's record is now 5-4. So we move over to Wednesday, the Mets send out Hisanori Takahashi who shut down the Phillies going 6 innings, no runs, and 6 strikeouts. For the Phils Joe Blanton would only go 5.1 innings, 6 hits, and giving up 5 runs with now an ERA of 5.63. Phillies again would be shutout with 7 hit and would still not get one run in. Phillies would lose by a score of 5-0; Joe Blanton's record is now 1-3 on the year. So now to Thursday where the Mets are looking for the sweep they send out one of the best in Mike Pelfrey would did a great job going 7 innings, 3 hits, and 5 strikeouts but would it be enough? The Phillies send out their other left hander Cole Hamels who at one point was doing very well in till the 7 inning. Hamels would leave the game going 6.1 innings, 9 hits, and giving up 3 runs with now an ERA of 3.82. The Phillies would yet again be shutout and lose 3-0 and get sweaped by the New York Mets.


It has been the first time since 1983 that the Phillies would lose 3 straight games in row by being shutout and who would have thought it would happen to this Phillies team? They have by far one of the best line-ups in the National League but lately it hasn't shown in their last 5-10 games hitting only .203, 282 OBP, and a .309 SLG. They have only scored 15 runs in the last 10 games which isn’t that good when you have guys like Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jayon Werth on your team. They key is that their missing Jimmy Rollins who is the leader of the ball club and yes the Phillies for the first 29 games did okay without Jimmy but now that he’s back on the DL it doesn’t good look good for the Phillies. He is what gets this team going. Yet it is still early in the year you have to wonder what is going on with the club? I mean their pitching and bull pen has been so-so but not great and their line-up is falling into a slump all together. I think when everything is said and done the Phillies will still end up winning their division for the 4th straight year but if you look at the NL East every team is right there with the Phillies, even the Nationals are only 3 games back of the division. So the NL East is pretty tight going into the month of June. The Phillies will be happy when the end of May hits because it has been awful for the club and they hope the month of June will be a bit nicer to them.


The Phillies will start a weekend series against division rival who find themselves only 3 games back of the division the Florida Marlins who come in play with a 24-24 record. They will send out Chris Volstad with an ERA of 4.31, 3 wins, 5 losses, and 34 strikeouts. As for the Fightin' Phils who are coming off a 5 game losing streak who needs a win big time coming into play with a 26-20 record, they will send out young Kyle Kendrick with an ERA of 5.66, 2 wins, 2 losses, and 22 strikeouts. Phillies - Marlins on tonight at 7:10, big weekend series.


I'm Seth Lempert,
For Beyond Baseball.

Rays Are the Team to Beat?

It's funny when I say this but the Tampa Bay Rays are once again the team to beat in the AL East. It was 2 years ago that the Rays were better than the New York Yankees and made it to the 2008 World Series but came up short to the Philadelphia Phillies. This year it seems that history is once again repeating itself as the Rays lead the AL East division over the defending 2009 World Series Champs the New York Yankees by 5.5 games with a 32-12 record, the best in baseball.

Earlier this year I put the Rays in my Top 12 Teams to win the World Series but I didn't pick them to win division or to even be this good. I know it’s early but the way they are playing I think right now no team can stop them. The reason between their early successes is their pitching, it has been lights on. They have "BIG GAME JAMES" who is their number 1 starting pitcher with an ERA of 3.08, 5 wins, 1 loss, and 66 strikeouts. The guy is nasty and is a big key for them. Next is the young gun and a big surprise in David Price who has pitched like a 10 year vet for this team. The kid is really helping out this ball club and has proven that he can play in this level where as to last year he was still going through the growing pains as a rookie. Price has the second to lowest ERA on the team with a 2.41 ERA, the most wins on the team with 7 wins, 1 loss, and third most strikeouts with 46 K's. The kid is the future of this team. Next is Jeff Niemann who is really the one guy who is really underrated as a pitcher and is very good. He carried this whole team last year and helped them make a run for the postseason but came up 3 games short of the AL Wild Card over the Boston Red Sox. This year his same momentum has carried over and has helped this team once again, Niemann is third on the list with the lowest ERA with a 2.54 ERA, 4 wins, 0 losses, and 36 strikeouts. Watch out for him for the rest of the year. Then they have Matt Garaz who last year didn't really have a great year but this year he really put it in fifth gear and has stepped up with game leading the team in ERA with a 2.37 ERA, 5 wins, 2 losses, and second in strikeouts with 54 K's. Garaz seems to show that he will hope to have a bounce back year and if he does he is going to be hard to face down the road. The last guy in this rotation is Wade Davis who has really done a nice job at the back off the pitching staff. Davis last year wasn't really what the Rays would hope he would be but this year he is everything the Rays have asked him to be and that is being consistent. Davis has an ERA of 3.35 with 4 wins, 3 losses, and 34 strikeouts. He has been somewhat of a surprise on this team.

Next is the Rays bull pen which has pretty good as well as their pitching staff. We start with Dan Wheeler who has been outstanding for the Rays and done his roll very nicely and has pitched great when being used. Wheeler has an ERA 2.45, 4 HLD and 16 strikeouts. Then there is Joaquin Benoit who has really proven that he could maybe someday be a starting pitcher for this team with a good fast ball and an ERA of 0.00, 1 save, and 13 strikeouts. Then they have another very good outstanding relief pitcher in Grant Balfour who has done a great job pitching having the same numbers as Wheeler just Balfour as 19 strikeouts in the pen. Last but not least is the Rays new closer who has been lights out and that's Rafael Soriano who came over from the Atlanta Braves. He has been one of the reasons why the Rays bull pen has been so good this year. He has an ERA of 1.40, 13 save in 13 opportunities, and 16 strikeouts.


Now the finals reason why the Rays are very good is because of their infield and outfield, also their beach isn't too bad. The Rays know they have a young team and their oldest Tampa Bay Ray on the team is left fielder Carl Crawford who is the leader of this ball club who has been playing with the Rays since 2002 when the Rays were a laughing stock and were never really good. But Crawford stayed with the team and it’s payed off in the end. Winning a division title, an American League Pennant, and making it to World Series in 2008. Crawford in 2010 is hitting .324, 3 HR, and 21 RBI's. Then there's the best third baseman in the league with Evan Longoria leading the team in home runs and RBI's. He is hitting .319, 9 HR, and 38 RBI's starting 2010 on a good note. The catcher John Jaso have been a big big surprise and taking over that roll. This kid is only 26 years old and this is second time in the big's since 2008 and boy he has done a nice job batting .349, 2 HR, and 18 RBI's. Next on the list is first baseman Carlos Pena who in the beginning was off to a slow start but has really picked it up and is improving every game. He's second on the team in home runs and RBI's. Pena is hitting .187, 7 HR, and 27 RBI's hard to believe that he has such a low batting average with all those RBI's. Now to right field with Ben Zobrist who started the year over at second but has really fitted well over in right field. It’s very hard from being an infielder your whole career to being moved to the outfield. Zobrist's numbers haven’t changed though hitting .309, 2 HR, and driving in 23 RBI's. We move over to center field to the speed man B.J. Upton who has started off a little slow himself but yet still has to batting average over .200 and will soon I think will be batting at least .260 by the end of the season. But as of right now he is batting .214, with 5 HR, and 19 RBI's. So no worries I hope for the Rays sake. Now to the short stop roll in Jason Bartlett who has been doing really well after coming a great year in 2009 and seems to keeping it rolling. He is batting .246, 1 HR, and 22 RBI's. Over to his right is second basemen Reid Brignac who has filled his roll nice at second and has proven he is an everyday player hitting .306, 2 HR, and driving in 16 RBI's. To the DH is Willy Aybar who is not bad to have at this spot. He hits for average and can steal a dew bags here and there. Aybar is hitting .243, 4 HR, and with 11 RBI's.

Now over to the Rays beach that is pretty good I mean not guys that are outstanding but players who can hit, field, and catch. We start with backup catcher Dioner Navarro who in the beginning of the season was the starting catcher but lost his role as it seems he just can't get out of the whole he's in batting .188 with 0 HR and 4 RBI's. Next is infielder Sean Rodriguez who plays at second but can really play anywhere in the infield. Rodriguez is batting .214, with 1 HR and 10 RBI's. Then there's outfielder Gabe Kapler who is a good hitter and a pretty good fielder. He mainly plays right field but he will take any spot you ask him to fill. In 2010 he is hitting .270, with 1 HR, and 7 RBI's. Last on this Rays team is DH and new comer Hank Blalock who isn't the player he once was when he was the Texas Rangers but still has some pop in his bat hitting .313, with 1 HR and 2 RBI's.


So there you have it. Are the Rays the team to beat in the American League or is this just one of those teams that is hot at the right moment? Seems as lately that this team is for real and ready to take on any team that stands in their way of winning their first ever World Series title.

For Beyond Baseball,
I'm Seth Lempert.

What is The Hardest Thing to do In Baseball?

It has been an argument said for hundreds of years that the hardest thing to do in baseball is pitch a perfect game, a no-hitter, hit for the cycle and hit for the triple crown. Well clearly I think throwing a perfect game and hitting for the triple crown are probably the two hardest thing to do in baseball because throwing a perfect game has been done 20 times in the history of the game through 1876-2010. No hitters are probably just as hard but that has been done 269 times through 1876-2010. Hitting for the triple crown has only been done 13 times in baseball. The first hit cycle in major league baseball was back in May 25th, 1882. The cycle is going 4 for 4 in a game with a single, double, triple, and a home run. A perfect game is the pitcher being perfect, giving up no hits, no walks, and no earn runs, and no ears in the game in 9 innings of work, something that only 19 pitchers have done. A no-hitter is not really the same thing; a pitcher can allow walks, an unearned run (not a hit) and still have a no-hitter. But in that case the whole point in the matter is not giving up a hit in 9 innings of work. Hitting the triple crown is leading the league in batting average, home runs, and RBI's. In the past few years lot more of these these have happened accepted the triple crown hasn't happen since 1967 almost 43 years was the last time a player would hit for the triple crown. Last year in 2009 where history was made for the second time in history eight players hit for cycle in one season since 1933. Only 1 time 7 players hit for the cycle back in 1890 and only 3 times has 6 players hit for the cycle back in 1940, 1976, and 2004. It’s seems’ at one point hitting for the cycle might have been one of the hardest things to do.

In 2009 a lot of history was made with all three changeling things being done in the game. We start with the perfect game that was thrown from White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle on July 23rd, 2009 as he threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays and became the 18th player in history to do so. Before he threw his perfect game the last one thrown by a pitcher was Diamondback BIG UNIT Randy Johnson in 2004 against the Atlanta Braves. Johnson made history two ways by throwing a perfect game and being the oldest player to throw one at the age of 40. Mark Buehrle is also on the list as one of many pitchers to throw a perfect game and a no-hitter in his career. He threw his first no-hitter back in April of 2007 against the Texas Rangers. After Buehrle threw his perfect game we wonder when will this heroic defeat ever happen again? Few weeks before the perfect game was thrown Jonathan Sanchez from the Giants became the 263 pitcher to throw a no-hitter against the San Diego Pardres on July 10th, 2009. Before Sanchez threw his no hitter Jon Lester from the Boston Red Sox was the last pitcher to throw a no-hitter on May 17th, 2008 against the Kansas City Royals. So two pitchers, from two different divisions, from two weeks apart did two of the hardest things in baseball, throw a no-hitter and a perfect game.

The cycle on the other hand made worldwide sports news because in 2009 eight players hit the cycle in one season and only once has that happened before. It started with Orlande Hudson from the Los Angeles Dodgers who is now with the Twins hit the first cycle in 2009 on April 13th, 2009. Two days later Ian Kinsler from the Texas Rangers hit for the cycle on April 15th, 2009. Two days later, again Jason Kubel from the Minnesota Twins hit for the cycle on April 17th, 2009. Never has the cycle been hit in a week’s time by three players from three different teams in one month has that happened. Almost two months later the cycle appeared again hit by another Minnesota Twin and not Joe Mauer or Justin Morneau did that feat, it came off the bat of Michael Cuddyer on May 22nd, 2009. Three months later, Yankees outfielder Melky Cabrera who is now with the Braves hit for the cycle on August 2nd, 2009. Eight days later Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies also hit for the cycle on August 10th, 2009. Four days later the cycle would happen once again off the bat of Felix Pie from the Baltimore Orioles on August 14th, 2009. Once again three different players in one month hit for the cycle, something that has never been seen in baseball where three different players in one month hit for the cycle twice in the same year. At the this point seven players have hit for the cycle and that has only happened once back in 1890 and only once has eight players hit for the cycle in history back in 1933, but B.J. Upton from the Tampa Bay Rays was on the verge to tie history and welcome the baseball Gods to the 21st century as on October 2nd, 2009 B.J. Upton tied major league baseball history being the 8th player in one season to hit for the cycle! Those eight men became the second group in baseball history to hit for the cycle in one year where that feat happened only once back ages ago. Its sure 2009 was indeed a history year also the New York Yankees made history by winning their 27th World Series Title.


In 2010 history was made once again. On April 17th, 2010 Colorado's Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez threw a no-hitter with six walks and became the 264 man to throw a no-hitter against the Atalanta Braves. Something that people have seen more of in baseball but still it’s a fact that throwing a no-hitter doesn't come very easy, but something more was about too happened. One month later on May 9th, 2010 on mother’s day Dallas Braden from the Oakland A's was pitching like he was CY Young on the mound and in the 9 inning fans knew that if he could get just 3 outs without walking batter or giving up a hit he would be the 19th players to throw a perfect game. On 109 pitches Dallas Braden would indeed become the 19th player in history to throw a perfect game and become the 265 man to throw a no-hitter as well. The team that he went perfection against was the Tampa Bay Rays, the same team the Mark Buehrle threw his perfect game against. I don't think history like this has ever been made where in back to back years four pitchers from two different divisions threw no-hitters and perfect games back to back years. Without that being said both pitchers who threw no-hitters are from the National League and the two pitchers who threw perfect games are from the American League. But the crazy thing about this whole article is that is has happened BACK to BACK years never has that ever happened in baseball history. Almost two weeks later on May 29th, 2010 Phillies new ace Roy Halladay pitched perfection against the Florida Marlins and became the 20th pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game and 266 pitcher to throw a no-hitter and it wouldn't be the last time Halladay would make history in 2010. It’s funny how the perfect game wasn't even seen since 2004 and people said I don't know or see any other pitcher besides Randy Johnson doing that. You might have said maybe Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, CC Sabathia, or even Johan Santana would be the next pitchers to throw no-hitters or perfect games and Halladay was next on that list. One month and four days earlier Diamondback's pitcher Edwin Jackson on June 25th, 2010 became the 267 pitcher to throw a no-hitter and would become the fourth pitcher in 2010 to have a no-hitter. Jackson threw a no-hitter with 159 pitches thrown in the ball game and he threw it against who but the Tampa Bay Rays who were once again no-hit against another team. One month and one day later on July 26th, 2010, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garaza would throw a no-hitter and became the 268 pitcher to do so and the fifth pitcher in 2010 to throw a no-hitter. So for once the Tampa Bay Rays were on the other side of having a no-hitter and not being no-hit against. Now remember how I said Roy Halladay would make history one more time in 2010, well on October 6th, 2010, Game 1 of the NLDS, Halladay threw his second no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds and would become the second pitcher in history to throw a no-hitter in the postseason since Don Larsen threw his perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Halladay became the 269 man to throw a no-hitter and the fifth pitcher in baseball history and the first since Nolan Ryan to throw multiple no-hitters in the same season. He would also be the sixth man in 2010 to throw a no-hitter, 2010 was the year of the pitchder. As for the cycle in 2010 only one player has hit for the cycle and that was Jody Gerut from the Milwaukee Brewers on May 8th, 2010. It seems as right now that eight players in one season won't hit for the cycle again in the next 40-45 years. That's just something that you will never see again. Hitting the cycle has to be one of the hardest things to do in baseball. I mean hitting a triple and a home run in one game are just two of many hardest things to do in baseball. But to hit a single, double, triple, and a home run is whole different story in its self.


The triple-crown is last on this list because it is known as one of the hardest thing ever to do in baseball. You have to lead the whole league in average, home runs and RBI's. It's something that hasn't been seen in 42 years. Only 13 players have hit for the triple crown and they are Paul Hines in 1878, Hugh Duffy in 1894, Nap Lajoie in 1901, Ty Cobb in 1909, Rogers Hornsby in 1922 and 1925, Chuck Klein in 1933, Jamie Foxx in 1933, Lou Gehrig in 1934, Joe Medwick in 1937, Ted Williams in 1942 and 1947, Mickey Mantle in 1956, Frank Robinson in 1966, and last but not least Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. It's been since then that no other player will ever do that again. In today's game it's so much harder to do all three of those things and if you had point two possible players to do so they are Ryan Howard from the Philadelphia Phillies and Albert Pujols from the St. Louis Cardinals. The problem with both of these players are that Howard has only batted over .300 once in his career but he has lead the league in home runs and RBI's in the past two years. Pujols on the other hand has batted over .300 in his career in the past few years but he has never leaded the league in homes or in RBI's. So it’s said that both these player will probably never hit for the triple-crown and if they do well more power to either Howard or Pujols if they do so. But as for that happening I don't think any player will ever hit for the triple-crown again and that feat will live on and never be broken. You never know though what can happen in this game of baseball, Americas past time.


I'm Seth Lempert,
This is Beyond Baseball.